Ever wonder why your pain fluctuates from very little to intense but never goes away? How many times have we had a sore foot, and after a few days of rest, the pain went away?
But, sometimes the pain lingers. It is almost like a pendulum swinging back and forth. Right when you think, “I’m going to make an appointment to see the doctor, “ it starts to feel better and you decide to wait it out. You let the process continue and before you know it, it has been 6 months or a year with a nagging, maybe not horrible, but annoying pain.
Treating chronic issues are different than treating acute injuries. Usually, rest is simply not enough. Even medications lose their ability to help with the pain.
Heel pain is a great example. Plantar Fasciitis is a common problem that many people suffer from. Most of the time, we can treat people quickly and get them pain free in a matter of days or weeks. Luckily, we have some of the best tools to diagnose and treat pain. The right formula for pain free feet is different for everyone.
Some people need orthotics because their foot structure is causing re-injury. Some people need stem cells because their body isn’t providing them with the right tools for healing. Some people need steroid injections to help with the healing process. A few people may need to have surgery. There are usually options when treating your chronic pain, but more rest is not going help.
You could be doing more damage by waiting it out. If you have been having pain for more than two weeks, you need to make sure your injury is not more severe. Like anything else, the sooner you attack a problem, the easier and faster it is to solve.
